Personal

Lyme disease is a potentially debilitating disease generally caused by deer ticks. While I am not an expert on this disease I know several people who have it. Today one person I know who has this disease sent me this e-mail:

The Infectious Disease Society of America is changing their criteria so that if you are tested for Lyme disease and it is negative and/or you do not have a rash, then you do not receive antibiotic treatment. This is very serious, especially for someone like me who has symptoms and is sick, but not does not always test positive.

New rules go into effect tomorrow – you can now carry some liquids on planes. Travel-size toiletry containers of 3 ounces (90 ml) or less that are placed in a “quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag.” That includes items like lip gloss and hand lotion. The bags will be screened and returned if they are cleared.

“We now know enough to say that a total ban is no longer needed from a security point of view,” said Kip Hawley, head of the Transportation Security Administration, at a news conference at Reagan National Airport.
“We have also taken additional security measures throughout the airport that make us comfortable allowing passengers to bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure area onboard,” he said.

Those measures, the TSA said in a statement, include: “more random screening of employees, additional canine patrols, stronger air cargo security measures, more rigorous identity verification standards and deploying more trained security officers in bomb appraisal and screening by observation techniques.”

The new security regimen is for an indefinite period, officials said. “It is unlikely that further adjustments to the ban on liquids, gels and aerosols will be made in the near future,” the TSA said.

“Obviously, there’s been a lot of unhappiness,” said Richard Marchi, senior adviser to the Airports Council International, an airport trade group.

The hotel I am staying at has a sleep number bed and I am convinced it got that name because you wake up at random numbers on the clock throughout the night. OK that may not be totally fair because a coworker is staying at this hotel and apparently he slept very well two nights ago. Me -- I woke up right in the middle of my sleep -- so I am probably not a good reference for the bed.

So the important question is what number is the best. I slept at 70 the first night and 40 the second.

Few people in this world have changed the way millions view and appreciate wildlife. With his love of animals and unmatched enthusiasm, Steve Irwin went everywhere, did anything and attempted the impossible -- every day.

This man was fearless. He handled venomous snakes in the wild like Black Mambas with nothing more than a slightly bushy branch as protection. He removed a deadly brown snake from the inside of his car with aplomb.

Oh by the way – power is out all over Connecticut thanks to Hurricane Ernesto and I have been without power for over 24 hours now and the power company anticipates about 24 more hours till power is restored. I begged and pleased – I even told them I am a good customer – always paying my bills on time. It didn’t help much. I have called twice for estimated repair times and the second time the estimate became eight hours later than the first!

I am not sure if I should call again or perhaps I will have to wait even more.

TMC was featured on the front page of the business section of the Stamford Advocate newspaper today. It was also in the Hartford Courant (at least online – I am not sure if it made the printed version on Sunday) The article was great and we are humbled by the nice coverage of TMC. One thing I am glad the piece focused on is how much we value our team and what they have helped build. It has been a wild ride and the last 7 years have been so exciting – from ideal telecom times to rough ones and then massive growth once again.